THE PIED-FLYCATCHER 271 



An interesting case of dual nesting has recently come under my 

 notice. A spotted-flycatcher bepin to build on a ledge outside a bed- 

 room window, where it was closely watched by an invalid friend of 

 mine. When the nest wax about half finished, a pied-wagtail begUI 

 to bring material too, and from that time until the nest was completed, 

 both species look turn in its construction. Then the flycatcher laid 

 an e g and the next day the wagtail followed suit, HO they continued 

 alternately until each bird had laid her full dutdi. But the fly- 

 COtehor alone brooded, while the wagtail contented herself with 

 running to and fro on the ledge, keeping an eye on the sitting bird, 

 and frequently twittering to her. The patient flycatcher continued to 

 do double duty until a day or two before incubation was iiflfrjy Qojn- 

 plete, when she suddenly ejected the wagtails eggs, but HtfeccHKfiilty 

 hatched out her own. The wagtail soon found her smashed eggs upon 

 the carriage drive, and displayed considerable anxiety over their 

 destruction, but very soon commenced building another nest on the 

 same ledge, and touching that of her neighbour. Eventually she, too, 

 successfully hatched out her brood. 



Such a curious story as this makes one wonder whether the 

 parasitic cuckoo takes an intelligent interest in the ultimate fate of 

 her eggs and young. Also, whether in far-away times certain species 

 like this flycatcher refused to become foster-parents, and are in con- 

 sequence still immune from this particular form of persecution. 



THE PIED-FLYCATCHER 

 [E. L. TURNER] 



The pied-flycatcher differs greatly in certain particulars from the 

 spotted. In the first place, it is extremely local in its distribution, 

 being confined almost entirely to mountainous valleys in the northern 

 counties and in Wales. It seldom nests far from streams, and prefers 

 a combination of woodland and water. But like the spotted-flycatcher 



